Toy airplane



March 16 1948,

J. HOJNOWSK! TOY AIRPLANE 2 Sheets-Sheet '1 c/aZm l ajnazmsirz' Filed Jan. 7, 1944 J. HOJNOWSKI arch 16, 1948.

TOY AIRPLANE Filed Jan. 7, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented 16, 1948 UNl'i'ED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOY AIRPLANE Jakob Hojnowski, Nekoosa, Wis.

Application January 7, 1944, Serial No. 517,427

1 Claim.

This invention relates to the class of aerial toys and pertains more particularly-to improvements in toy airplanes.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved toy airplane having a novel fuselage construction designed to house the propeller driving means and to provide also a bearing for the hub of the propeller.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel toy airplane construction in which the propellers are operated by resilient strands placed under tension by a novel cranking arrangement by means of which a number of such strands may be twisted and tensioned simultaneously.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a toy airplane construction having a longitudinally chambered fuselage for housing the propeller operating resilient strand and having a conical nose at the forward end forming a bearing for a propeller hub and a crank hook disposed axially in the tail end and rotatable for twisting the strand connected therewith.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description of the same proceeds and the invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, with the understanding that the invention is not to be confined to a strict conformity with the showing of the drawings but may be changed or modified so long as such changes of modifications do not depart from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the appended claim.

In the drawings:

Figur 1 is a view in side elevation of an airplane constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a view in top plan of the same.

Figure 3 is a view in top plan of another embodiment of the invention showing the application of the same to a multi-propeller structure, parts being in section.

Figure 4 is a view in top plan of another embodiment having a single body member with a series of propellers upon opposite sides thereof.

Figure 5 illustrates in top plan a modified propeller shaft mounting bracket.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal section through the bracket of Figure 5 and showing a shaft mounted therein.

Figure 7 is a detail illustrating a double hook crank for the rear end of a resilient propeller operating strand.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings there is illustrated in Figure 1 a single propeller type of plane wherein the body or fuselage is generally designated ID. This body comprises the two elongated fiat members H which are disposed in spaced parallel relation and have secured between the forward ends the spacer body l2 while the rear or tail ends have secured therebetween, and are separated by, the lower end of the vertical rudder l3 and the upper end of the tail skid M.

The rear ends of the body members I l are horizontally slotted to receive the horizontal rudder structure which is generally designated I5 and which provides at the two sides of the body the horizontal rudder portions H5.

The forward edge of the horizontal rudder unit is formed at each side of the body In to provide the hooks I1 for the purpose hereinafter stated.

The bow or nose end of the body i0 is rounded as indicated at [8. This provides a bearing point for the convex rear end of the propeller hub l9 with which the propeller blades Zll are connected.

Extending axially through the hub I9 is the propeller shaft 2| which passes through the block l'2 on the longitudinal center of the fuselage body. The inner end of the 2| is formed into a hook 2'2 with which is connected the rubber band 23, intermediate its ends, the ends of the band being extended rearwardly through the longitudinal opening or slot 24 which is formed through the major portion of the length of each body member H and engaged with the hooks ll. The forward end of each of these slots is enlarged as indicated at 25 to provide the necessary space for the hook 22 to turn and to facilitate the disposition of the rubber band in the hook.

The top edges of the body members II have cut therein the dovetail slots 26 which are aligned transversely of the body and in these slots is engaged the wing structure 21 which is formed as a single straight unit and which has its forward and rear edges beveled as indicated at 28 to engage under the under-cut sides of the slots 26.

The top edges of the body members ll within the area of the slots 26 are suitably grooved or recessed to receive the substantially U-shaped yoke 29, Figure 2, which forms an integral part of and connects together the landing wheel legs 30 which extend laterally, downwardly and forwardly and have pivotally mounted on their free ends the wheels 3|. It will be seen that the connecting yoke 29 between the legs 3|] is maintained in position by the wing body which in turn is locked to the two members ll of the fuselage by the dovetail coupling.

The block 12 forms a bearing for the propeller shaft at 2i and it will be readily understood that the toy is operated by turning the propeller blades by hand to twist the rubber strand 23 as is customary in rubber band operated toy planes.

Figure 3 illustrates the application of the invention to a toy plane structure having three propeller blade mountings with means by which the driving strands may all be wound simultaneously.

In this construction a dual body arrangement 33, midway between and parallel with the full length body units.

The body units 32 have connected across their rear ends the horizontal rudder unit 34, which carries upon the outer sides of the body units 32 the vertical rudders 35.

A single wing body 35 extends across and connects the forward ends of the body units 32 and supports the half unit 33.

Each of the units 32S3 has a rounded or convex nose 3! and there extends through each nose on the axial center of the unit of which it forms a part, the short propeller shaft 38 which carries the hub 39 and the propeller blades 49, attached to the hub.

The shafts 38 extend rearwardly into chambers 3! formed in the forward ends of the units 32t3, where they are shaped into the hooks 42.

Similar chambers 33 are formed in the rear ends of the outer units 32 and these are joined with the forward chambers ll of such units by the passages d4. Th central unit 33 also has a longitudinal passage therethrough which is designated 45 and which leads from the chamber M in the forward end of the center unit through the rear end of this unit.

Ihe rear end of each of the outer units 32 has a longitudinal bore therethrough which forms a bearing for a crank-shaft 45. The forward end of each of these shafts extends into the rear chamber 63 and is shaped to form the hook ii. The rear ends of the shafts 46 are shaped to provide the cranks 43 which are disposed rearwardly of the horizontal rudder.

Formed transversely through the horizontal rudder in alignment with the passage ll of the central unit is a suitable bore forming a bearing for the central crankshaft 49 which, at its forward end, has the hook 58 and at its rear. end, behind the horizontal rudder, the crank The hooks Al, 5!] are connected to the hooks 42 forwardly therefrom by the rubber bands 52, which pass through the axial passages of the corresponding units.

The cranks are joined together for rotation as a unit by the single crank bar 53 which extends parallel with the rear edge of the horizontal rudder and by means of which simultaneous rotation may be imparted to the several parts.

The crank bar 53 is maintained against free movement after the bands 52 have been wound, by means of the lock pin 54, which is extended through a suitable opening, formed transversely through the horizontal rudder, into an opening in the bar Figure 4 illustrates another embodiment of the invention wherein a similar means is provided for mounting the propeller units in multiple and for coupling them with cranks, similar to those shown in Figure 3, by resilient bands.

In this construction a single elongated body unit is employed which is designated 56 and which has secured transversely thereof the wing structure 57 and the horizontal tail rudder 58.

Upon each side of the body unit 56 is mounted, upon the top of the Wing, the longitudinally chambered body 59 supporting the propeller shaft. Each of these bodies is of substantial length and has its forward end rounded, or convexed, as indicated at 60, to provide a bearing nose for the hubs 6! which carry the propeller blades 62.

The forward ends of the bodies 59 are bored to provide bearings for the propeller shafts 63, the rear end of each of which extends into the forward end of the chamber 64 of the body and is shaped to provide the hook 65.

The horizontal rudder rotatably supports crank-shafts 66 corresponding in number with the propeller shafts 63. Each of these crankshafts is aligned with a propeller shaft and has a hook at on its forward end which is connected with the hook of the aligned propeller shaft by a rubber band 68.

The rear end of each crank-shaft 66 is shaped into the crank 59 and these cranks are coupled together for unitary rotation by the bar 70. This bar, like the bar 53, may be secured to hold the cranks against turning by a lock pin ll extended through the horizontal rudder into the bar.

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate a mounting which may be employed for the propeller shafts in substitution for the longitudinally chambered bodies 59, This mounting comprises an elongated plate '52 having a portion at one end turned up to form the vertical bearing i3 and having a portion cut out and bent or struck up, inwardly from the bearing 33, to form the second bearing i l. Such bearings are provided with suitable aligned apertures for the reception of the propeller shaft 15 which corresponds to the previously described propeller shafts and particularly the shafts 63.

In Figure '7 there is illustrated a modified form of crank which might be used in substitution for the cranks 68. This modified crank is designated 16 and forms a part of a shaft 11 which at its forward and carries the transverse arm '58 which terminates at each end in a hook 19. With this double hook arrangement the intermediate portion of a rubber band can be engaged in a propelier shaft hook 8G and the ends of the band each connected with one of the pair of hooks if! in an arrangement corresponding to that shown in Figures 1 and 2.

From the foregoing it will be readily seen that there has been provided, in the several described embodiments of the present invention, an unique toy airplane driving means which can be easily and quickly powered and in which a minimum of friction will be developed between the moving and stationary parts so that a maximum of flying range may be obtained.

I claim:

A toy airplane, comprising wing and tail units, a pair of elongated body members having said units joined thereto and disposed transversely thereof, the body members each being longitudinally chambered and having a longitudinal shaft bearing leading through each end from the chamher, a propeller shaft mounted in the bearing at the front end of each body, a crank shaft mounted in the hearing at the rear end of each body, an elastic strand extending through each body chamber and connecting the propeller and crankshafts, a crank upon the rear end of each crankshaft, a propeller unit secured upon the front end of each propeller shaft, a member coupling the cranks for facilitating unitary rotation thereof, comprising a bar extending transversely of the body members at the rear end of the tail unit and means for latching the bar to the tail unit to hold the shafts from turning.

JAKOB HOJNOWSKI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Crane June 7, 1910 Smith June 21, 1910 Humphrey et a1. Sept. 20, 1910 Clarke June 27, 1911 Colombier July 2, 1912 Grant Mar. 8, 1921 Dowcl Dec. 20, 1927 Kramer Feb. 18, 1936 Harb July 4, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France Feb. 28, 1908 15 Number 

